In this observation, pay attention to how your teacher manages his or her classroom. What types of disruptions, if any, occur while you're visiting? How do they set the class in motion? How do they deal with interruptions (from the outside) and disruptions (from their students)? Determine whether there are students in the classes that you will teach that are especially troublesome. Ask your CT how he or she addresses these students' needs. Reflect on your "vision" of an ideal science classroom. What classroom policies will you try to implement in YOUR classroom? How does your vision align with your teaching philosophy?
Observations: During my last visit at Scituate Middle School, there were many disruptions each class ranging from students getting up and walking around, talking excessively, to announcements and students from the hallway peeking their heads into the classroom. Mr. Barnes handled each type differently, with loud students he would stand at the front of the room and individually call students names and tell them to quiet down, and eventually when other students noticed they seemed to quiet down, perhaps afraid to be the next name he called. He would move closer to students who were consistently causing disruptions and sometimes he would resort to isolating certain students from each other. Class seemed to start off by him getting all students attention by standing quietly, waiting for them to realize he was waiting for them to calm down, than he would begin whatever he was working on.
Reflections:
There are several students in a few of my future classes that do have severe behavioral issues, and have been problematic for my CT already. Luckily, I had attended team meetings and the problematic issues of these students were discussed, as well as effective ways to deal with them when they cause disruptions in the classroom. These students generally are only in need of a slightly different way of teaching, a little more guidance, and a firmer setting. In my "vision" of an ideal classroom I had not considered having this many types of issues with classroom management, and I think that in order to fit the mold of the students I will be teaching my idea of an ideal classroom will have to be readjusted. I will try to implement some sort of signal between the students and myself so they know that when they see that, it means to calm down right away. Mr.Barnes uses the name-calling which seemed effective, I may try to use that myself, and if that works I'll incorporate that. The most important thing I feel my policies will need to show is an environment of mutual respect, and I will set policies that require students to be respectful of me and each other.
Class Topic: Catostrophic Events
Grade: 7th
Observed by: Jennifer Cullen
Observations: During my last visit at Scituate Middle School, there were many disruptions each class ranging from students getting up and walking around, talking excessively, to announcements and students from the hallway peeking their heads into the classroom. Mr. Barnes handled each type differently, with loud students he would stand at the front of the room and individually call students names and tell them to quiet down, and eventually when other students noticed they seemed to quiet down, perhaps afraid to be the next name he called. He would move closer to students who were consistently causing disruptions and sometimes he would resort to isolating certain students from each other. Class seemed to start off by him getting all students attention by standing quietly, waiting for them to realize he was waiting for them to calm down, than he would begin whatever he was working on.
Reflections:
There are several students in a few of my future classes that do have severe behavioral issues, and have been problematic for my CT already. Luckily, I had attended team meetings and the problematic issues of these students were discussed, as well as effective ways to deal with them when they cause disruptions in the classroom. These students generally are only in need of a slightly different way of teaching, a little more guidance, and a firmer setting. In my "vision" of an ideal classroom I had not considered having this many types of issues with classroom management, and I think that in order to fit the mold of the students I will be teaching my idea of an ideal classroom will have to be readjusted. I will try to implement some sort of signal between the students and myself so they know that when they see that, it means to calm down right away. Mr.Barnes uses the name-calling which seemed effective, I may try to use that myself, and if that works I'll incorporate that. The most important thing I feel my policies will need to show is an environment of mutual respect, and I will set policies that require students to be respectful of me and each other.
Class Topic: Catostrophic EventsGrade: 7th
Observed by: Jennifer Cullen